Rock wrack

For our marine study, we used a transect zone collection method there were 8 groups each with 5-6 students. The day we went out it was cooler and windy in the morning but got progressively warmer as the day continued. My group had an area that was mostly covered with seaweed and algae such as knotted wrack, and spiral wrack, this caused the area to be very slippery and also allowed for many places crabs could use to hide. Also in our marine area were many big sloped rocks with overhangs above the ground with walls of knotted wrack covering openings. We found 10 crabs which were all European green crabs and of the male gender, the biggest one of the bunch was 7cm wide and the smallest was around 2cm wide. Other species found in our area were Common periwinkles (15 upper intertidal, 14 lower), Rough periwinkles (12 upper intertidal, 10 lower), and one Smooth periwinkle found in the upper intertidal zone.
When we went on the path around the island we saw many different invasive species taking over multiple different areas such as Giant knotweed, Japanese barberry, Asian bittersweet, Glossy buckthorn, and Morrow’s honeysuckle. All of these plants were taking up quite a bit of space but the ones taking up the most room in the area were the Giant knotweed, taking up an area of about 52 meters by 10 meters, and Asian bittersweet, it was wrapped around and taking over many trees, and shrubs all along the path and even more so away from the path in plants around small fields. All in all this place needs lots of work and lots of time but it may be able to recover if people to help are found quickly and is the work done is efficient, if not this island may be too far gone to save.

Supporting Evidence

This plant is not bladderwrack but it is very similar to it. My first evidence behind this is that this plant has a midrib running down the middle that twists in a spiral where the bladderwrack does not.

My second piece of evidence behind this is that the receptacles have a raised ridge, where the air pockets on bladderwrack do not.

My last piece of evidence as to why this is not bladderwrack is that bladderwrack grows up to 1 meter long whereas this plant is significantly smaller.

Species Observation: Species Looked For

Did you find it?:

I think I did not find it

Scientific name:

Fucus vesiculosus

Common name:

Rock wrack

Sampling method:

Transect

Place Studied

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